On Monday, February 6, 2023, attorney Sami Ziad Azhari was charged before the Hearing Board of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Board for engaging in a sexual relationship with a client.
The case is entitled “In the matter of Sami Ziad Azhari” and was brought by the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission with case no. 2023PR00007.
The charges cited Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct 1.8(j) which states:
A lawyer shall not have sexual relations with a client unless a consensual sexual relationship existed between them when the client-lawyer relationship commenced.
The Rules of Professional Conduct can be found here.
The complaint alleges that the respondent, Mr. Azhari while representing a client in a criminal matter, engaged in a sexual relationship with the client while the case was still ongoing. Thus, violating the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct.
The filing states:
“On or prior to August 10, 2014, Respondent and Ms. Fasano agreed that Respondent would represent her in the criminal case. On August 12, 2014, Mr. Gainor filed a motion to withdraw and for substitution of attorneys. On August 18, 2014, a substitution of attorney was filed in Ms. Fasano’s criminal case providing that Respon dent would substitute as her attorney in place of Mr. Gainor. At the time that Respondent substituted as Ms. Fasano’s counsel, he did not have an ongoing sexual relationship with her”
The filing continues:
“In October or November 2014, Respondent began having sexual relations with Ms. Fasano, while he was still representing her in case number 14 CM 1406. Between August 2014 and April 27, 2015, Respondent represented Ms. Fasano in case number 14 CM 1406. On April 27, 2015, following a bench trial, the Court found Ms. Fasano guilty of the Class B Misdemeanor of telephone harassment – lewd comment and sentenced her to eighteen months of court supervision.”
With clear violation of the Respondent of the Rules of Professional Conduct through his conduct, the Administrator of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission requested before the Hearing Board that the matter be referred to a panel of the same and a hearing be conducted to make findings of fact, conclusions of Fact and law, and a recommendation of such discipline as is warranted.
Mr. Azhari attended the Michigan State University College of Law. He practices in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. He is licensed in Illinois and California. His info can be found on martindale.com.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
